Found Safe TN - Mary Catherine Elizabeth Thomas, 15, Maury County, 13 March 2017 #12

[Deleted member 155000]

It always comes back to "they could be anywhere". I'm with the poster who said that when they are found, s/he wouldn't be surprised wherever they were.

Spread the word far and wide and let's find Elizabeth!

I want to know if TC brought camping supplies such as a tent, sleeping bags, and a propane heater. If he did not, it would have been risky, but possible to buy them later, but that would cut into his limited amount of cash. Overnight temps are chilly outside of the sun belt.

I wish we had more info like this too!

It's hard not to get stuck on what "we would do" if in his shoes.

I would definitely have had a plan in place to switch my vehicle and would have already acquired camping equipment. But for me personally, I would only use sleeping bags and in-car mattresses as sleeping arrangements while traveling or as back up if I had to quickly go back on the run. I would be headed to some remote cabin or apartment in the rural west or Mexico to lay low for a while.

(Of course TC and I *don't* think alike in reality so this may mean nothing.)

Did he have a storage unit under a different name in Decatur with a used car waiting for him? Is the Rogue in it right now? I know many units allow access by code 24 hrs now and aren't always closely monitored, making it possible an owner wouldn't even know it was housed there.




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[BIC]

It always comes back to "they could be anywhere". I'm with the poster who said that when they are found, s/he wouldn't be surprised wherever they were.

Spread the word far and wide and let's find Elizabeth!

I want to know if TC brought camping supplies such as a tent, sleeping bags, and a propane heater. If he did not, it would have been risky, but possible to buy them later, but that would cut into his limited amount of cash. Overnight temps are chilly outside of the sun belt.

I think LE is wrong for not releasing more info from the OK sighting. We should know what they bought, and whether or not they still had the Rogue at that point. IMO

 

[Vedder]

He may have also looked into natural or alternative ways to treat high bp. There are a few proven to work as well or better than prescription meds.


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If he's lost weight, that may naturally lower his bp. Although I doubt they're eating healthy food - fast food is high in fat.

I wish LE would divulge the contents of the note. And what was purchased at the Walmart in OK.

 

[boromommyto2]

The statement in the article about the OK sighting being a diversion makes me wonder or think that perhaps they may have info has not been released about there whereabouts now?

 

[Deleted member 155000]

If he's lost weight, that may naturally lower his bp. Although I doubt they're eating healthy food - fast food is high in fat.

I wish LE would divulge the contents of the note. And what was purchased at the Walmart in OK.

I wonder that too. He definitely tweeted a lot about "real food" and nutrition, including tweeting to a couple nutrition experts.


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[keeleydoll]

If he's lost weight, that may naturally lower his bp. Although I doubt they're eating healthy food - fast food is high in fat.

I wish LE would divulge the contents of the note. And what was purchased at the Walmart in OK.

She has a true wheat allergy, most fast food is not safe for someone with such an allergy even if touted as gluten free because of the risk of cross contamination. The two fast food restaurants considered relatively safe for someone with such an allergy are Chick Fil A and Wendy's. Being as she worked for Chick Fil A, I'd hope they have posters up in all of their stores for the employees.


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[Hatfield]

I'm still not buying the whole Walmart sighting as a diversion, if it was then it was a poor plan IMO. Why would you go to OK to divert LE when from there you could shoot straight to Mexico if that's where they went? You could also go anywhere North or West from there, East would IMO be too much of a gamble at that point. So IMO being seen in OK is the same as where they started in TN. If however I am wrong and it was a diversion I don't think Mexico is where they went for the simple fact that it looks like you can get there from Ok pretty easily and that would be part of the diversion, therefore I believe maybe they doubled back after making it look like they were headed west, (don't forget one of ETs friends said they were going west) and they could be anywhere on the east coast, probably Florida. All MOO

Re BBM

I agree.

It is a really long drive from where they left to get to OKC.

I dont think it was a diversion at all. I think he was so arrogant that he thought they would blend in with the crowd and not be spotted.

It almost worked until someone either spotted them and reported to LE about them being in that store or someone must have poured over all the walmart videos from many stores and just got very lucky in finding that video of them.

The problem was that it took so long by the time LE was notified then too much time went by from that video so they had lots of time to get somewhere else.

The other problem with the location of where they were spotted is it is the crossroads of the midwest and they could have gone north or south or west or even back east from there. Logically though a good guess would be to limit to either south or further west.

Here is why I think they had to go south or west of OKC. We know they were headed in a westerly direction when they got spotted in OKC. So we can elminate north because they would have already taken a more northerly path if they had planned on going north.

And doubling back East is not an option for me because they are trying to get away from where they left.

Which leaves ONLY either West more or South.

Rumored sightings in Corpus Christi and I have to wonder if they did go due south from OKC. Those were just rumors and I think it may have been proven it was not them down there. It was just a rumored sighting and not sure what came about it other than we didnt hear much more about it.

If I had to guess I am keeping my guesses at South Padre Island or Corpus Christi beach camping type areas or a cheap motel near a beach there in south Texas.

The main reason I like that area is she was confirmed to have brought along a bathing suit and that location keeps them close to Mexico but not in Mexico. If they had to make a dash for the border if the heat gets too hot then that location is a perfect location for that.

Here are the 10 best beaches in Corpus Christie according to this article.

https://www.yelp.com/search?cflt=beaches&find_loc=Corpus+Christi,+TX

South Padre is also a choice for me. Very close to there.

http://sopadre.com/things-to-do/?ut..._CmUVTKS-klEb-H_pqGSali1jtxWh9Qn5IRoCM3Pw_wcB


My only other second choice would be Las Vegas area.

All JMO of course.

 

[Kapua]

I wish we had more info like this too!

It's hard not to get stuck on what "we would do" if in his shoes.

I would definitely have had a plan in place to switch my vehicle and would have already acquired camping equipment. But for me personally, I would only use sleeping bags and in-car mattresses as sleeping arrangements while traveling or as back up if I had to quickly go back on the run. I would be headed to some remote cabin or apartment in the rural west or Mexico to lay low for a while.

(Of course TC and I *don't* think alike in reality so this may mean nothing.)

Did he have a storage unit under a different name in Decatur with a used car waiting for him? Is the Rogue in it right now? I know many units allow access by code 24 hrs now and aren't always closely monitored, making it possible an owner wouldn't even know it was housed there.


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BBM

Exactly, I keep trying to apply logic to a situation that makes no sense, engineered by a man who has clearly lost his mind. Did/does he have a clear plan or are they wandering aimlessly where the wind takes them? Sleeping in the car, a tent, a cabin, or a low-rent motel? If he didn't plan well, they could be pretty uncomfortable. Both of them are used to the comforts of home.

I once knew a couple who lived in a rented warehouse for a while. It didn't have a shower, but it had a bathroom. Warehouse rents are lower than apartment rents and they could stash the car there.

 

[Mom24]

I know a few teachers here in GA and they get paid the 15th and the last day of the month like me.

I think you might be on to something. That's why it took a while to go public with the video from the 15th. It probably had something to do with his pay. MOO


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Unlikely. Apparently, according to ET's sister, TC hasn't touched his bank accounts since he left.

 

[Deleted member 155000]

BBM

Exactly, I keep trying to apply logic to a situation that makes no sense, engineered by a man who has clearly lost his mind. Did/does he have a clear plan or are they wandering aimlessly where the wind takes them? Sleeping in the car, a tent, a cabin, or a low-rent motel? If he didn't plan well, they could be pretty uncomfortable. Both of them are used to the comforts of home.

I once knew a couple who lived in a rented warehouse for a while. It didn't have a shower, but it had a bathroom. Warehouse rents are lower than apartment rents and they could stash the car there.

Right. And I don't know how all states are, but in the Midwest and the south, there are TONs of abandoned houses with out buildings. They often have boarded up windows but some still appear relatively structurally sound. Many even in my area have been empty for years. It's possible they have found a *free* place like this or an unused seasonal cottage where they are almost "playing house" so to speak.


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[alas]

Hold up. Did someone say he has daughters? Does he not have sons? We have just spoken of his "children", not specifically said if he had daughters or sons or both. This will change the whole dynamic, which will make him much more evil.

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[Deleted member 155000]

This is another "if it were me" statement, admittedly, but if I were in his shoes, I would think I either had a short window to get out of the country...or a short window to get into remote hiding where I would lay low for months before trying to change my identity and reintegrate into a rural US or a Mexican community.


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[Kapua]

I'm still not buying the whole Walmart sighting as a diversion, if it was then it was a poor plan IMO. Why would you go to OK to divert LE when from there you could shoot straight to Mexico if that's where they went? You could also go anywhere North or West from there, East would IMO be too much of a gamble at that point. So IMO being seen in OK is the same as where they started in TN. If however I am wrong and it was a diversion I don't think Mexico is where they went for the simple fact that it looks like you can get there from Ok pretty easily and that would be part of the diversion, therefore I believe maybe they doubled back after making it look like they were headed west, (don't forget one of ETs friends said they were going west) and they could be anywhere on the east coast, probably Florida. All MOO

I am not buying that, either. Why would you disguise yourself if you were bent on being discovered? IMHO, they're probably on a few other security cameras that haven't been checked. They have to buy food now and then.

 

[Mom24]

Back to Basics:
Cummins is 50 years old
Cummins married his wife in 1985
Cummins told students he was a millionaire and a CIA operative that traveled on secret missions
Cummins suffers from high blood pressure and is on medication for this
Cummins has 2 daughters
Cummins twitter account: https://twitter.com/tadcummins?lang=en
Cummins instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/tadcummins/?hl=en

Elizabeth Thomas is 15
ET is 5'2"
ET is left handed
ET has hazel eyes
ET has a slight lisp
ET has no discernible accent
ET has scars on face
ET's instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/_.babygirl2001._/?hl=en
ET's fb account: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100013127238384

On January 23 a female schoolmate saw TC kiss ET on the lips in the classroom with TC's grandchild in the room "Cummins was inside his classroom after school Jan. 23 with his grandson and Thomas, the girl told family members, when she walked in and inexplicably saw them kissing. Cummins and Thomas were sitting side by side in chairs and kissed on the lips as the grandchild, who also attends Culleoka, was using one of the classroom's computers."
http://www.columbiadailyherald.com/n...izabeth-thomas


January 24th the female student confronted TC about the kiss with another student. TC told the students he was a father figure to ET and she was a "close and best friend". "The 12-year-old seventh-grader went to Cummins the morning of Jan. 24 for an explanation before reporting him, the family said. She wanted to know the nature of his relationship with Thomas."
http://www.columbiadailyherald.com/n...izabeth-thomas
and, "According to his personnel file, when Cummins was confronted, he told two students he was a “father figure” to Elizabeth and saw her as a “close and best friend.” He also said that Elizabeth “had been through a lot and had suffered an abusive home life.”"
http://www.wsmv.com/story/34967126/d...ling-home-life



LE also started an investigation. "The student was "very credible," Maury County Sheriff Bucky Rowland said, setting off an investigation into Cummins' behavior and relationship with students."
http://www.columbiadailyherald.com/n...izabeth-thomas

January 30th school concluded investigation, found no evidence since both ET and TC denied the kiss but ET was removed from class.
January 31 ET's father found out about kiss from Sheriff who was investigating the issue.

January 31 ET's father sent a letter to school expressing concern through his attorney Whatley.
"Whatley says when Mr. Thomas searched Elizabeth’s phone, he found she had been communicating with Cummins. The letter sent Feb. 6 from Whatley to the school also says, “I cannot overemphasize to you the concern we have here.”"
http://wkrn.com/2017/03/19/school-do...ns-and-thomas/


February 3 TC is reprimanded for having ET in his room. Another teacher said she was in the classroom for over 30mins.
"The teacher would later be reprimanded on Feb. 3 by school principal Penny Love after the girl was seen in Cummins classroom for a little more than half an hour that day. In her letter, Love said the girl being in his classroom was a violation of the principal’s order to him."
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/tad-cumm...zabeth-thomas/

February 6 TC is suspended for insubordination

March 13 ET tells her sister to call 911 if she isn't home by 6pm
http://abcnews.go.com/US/timeline-al...ry?id=46273578

Other details:

School never informed ET's father of inappropriate contact or of any investigation
http://abcnews.go.com/US/timeline-al...ry?id=46273578

ET was dropped off by friend at Shoney's on March 13th, ET asked friend to instead take her back home, friend refused.
Friend who dropped ET off is not cooperating with LE

"Employees at the Shoney's in Columbia said Thomas was waiting with her bags inside the restaurant on March 13. They said when Tad Cummins pulled up, the teen ran outside leaving her back pack behind."
http://whnt.com/2017/03/24/da-elizab...dissapearance/

School and students refuse to wear green ribbons in support of ET and ET has been called a harlot (per Sister)

TC has two guns (unknown what type) "Authorities say he is armed with two handguns"
http://www.9news.com/news/crime/stat...teen/423257704

ET's phone pinged in Decatur AL March 13 at 3:06pm "A spokesperson for the Decatur, Alabama, police told ABC News by phone that Elizabeth had not been physically seen in or around Decatur and that reports of their whereabouts may have been attributed to a ping from the girl’s cell phone."
http://krvn.com/abc_national/timelin...abcid35882433/

ET was originally reported as a runaway, although her father early on maintained she had been abducted by TC

TC's wife reported him missing.

LE concluded 24 hours after both reported missing that TC and ET were together, so they had a 24 headstart before the Amber Alert was issued. "Thomas, a 15-year-old from Middle Tennessee, disappeared with her ex-teacher, 50-year-old Tad Cummins, on March 13. There have been no confirmed sightings since that day and an Amber Alert was issued the next day"
http://www.9news.com/news/crime/stat...teen/423257704

Amber Alert has not been issued nationwide.

LE believe they may be in Mexico or Central America posing as missionaries.
"Law enforcement in Mexico has been notified of the Amber Alert," Cooper said. "But we don't know how much publicity it's getting and we need people down there to know about this because it's possible that's where they are. Cooper said although authorities don't have any information specifically linking Cummins and Thomas to Mexico, it's possible they made it that far."Because he was a very religious man, very knowledgeable of the Bible, it's possible that he's playing the role of a missionary in that area," Cooper said. "
http://www.al.com/news/huntsville/in..._thomas_u.html

TC took a loan for 4,500. "TBI said Cummins secured a title loan for a personal vehicle and other personal effects several days before his disappearance, netting $4,500 in cash."
http://fox17.com/news/local/tbi-rele...izabeth-thomas

TC searched teen marriages " Cummins researched 'teen marriage' just a few days before he and Elizabeth disappeared. "
http://www.9news.com/news/crime/stat...teen/423257704

TC searched disabling GPS on automobile "Cummins also searched whether police could track his car, a Nissan Rogue, according to TBI."
http://www.al.com/news/huntsville/in..._thomas_a.html

TC took Nissan Rogue, leaving wife with his Jeep which she is unable to drive "He took the car,” Scott said. “And she (Cummins' wife) can’t even drive a stick.”
http://www.tennessean.com/story/news...mins/99515186/

TC told his wife on the morning he disappeared he was going out for a job interview.

TC has an associates degree, was a respiratory therapist, taught forensics, had an alternative certification to teach
"Cummins has held a professional occupational educators license since 2014 in health science. To obtain the license, educators need one year’s work in the field in the past five years and an associate degree."
http://www.tennessean.com/story/news...mins/99515186/

TC has a degree in interdisciplinary studies
"He later returned to school at Tennessee State University while teaching, graduating in 2014 with a degree in interdisciplinary studies"
http://www.tennessean.com/story/news...mins/99515186/


TC's former colleague states TC was a bully and narcissist

TC's former colleague is offering a 5,000 reward

LE is offering a 1,000 reward

There have been no credible sightings of TC or ET since March 15

ET left a bag behind at Shoney's, but it was later gone. The story goes that it was left outside and picked up by someone.
Shoney's had no working surveillance camera (per Sister) and ""We believe for one reason or another she left one of these bags behind and it disappeared later that day," said DA Brent Cooper.Cooper said someone either took the bag or Elizabeth may have come back for it" http://whnt.com/2017/03/24/da-elizab...dissapearance/

ET has wheat and tomato allergies and needs an epi pen.(per Sister)

ET took her sister's bathing suit with her (per Sister)

ET hid from TC when he tried to see her at work. "One of Thomas family lawyers told WKRN that, at some point before the March 13 disappearance, Cummins came into Elizabeth's work place. The teen hid in a bathroom and urged a co-worker to tell the teacher that she wasn't there." http://patch.com/tennessee/nashville...ns-family-says (this was also confirmed by Sister)

ET had been taken from her mother's custody and her father has custody of her.
"Elizabeth is one of 10 children in a single-parent home because her father now has full custody of all of them."
http://www.wsmv.com/story/34967126/d...ling-home-life

ET had formerly been homeschooled, was a freshman in high school and had just started public school.
"She started as a freshman this year, entering the public school system for the very first time."
http://www.wsmv.com/story/34967126/d...ling-home-life

TC was her teacher.
"The high school freshman was in Cummins’ Forensics class at Culleoka Unit School."
http://wkrn.com/2017/03/19/school-do...ns-and-thomas/

ET's mother was charged with abuse and lost custody.
"“police arrested Elizabeth’s mother, Kimberly Thomas, last year. She was charged with five counts of child abuse and neglect. According to court documents, Kimberly Thomas beat Elizabeth and four of her siblings.”"
http://www.wsmv.com/story/34967126/d...ling-home-life

ET's mother gave an interview.

TC was looking for work in Decatur.
"The Morgan County Sheriff’s department told News 2 they received tips that Cummins was looking for work in the area."
http://wkrn.com/2017/03/24/tbi-no-cr...disappearance/

TC and ET may have stayed in a motel in Decatur the first night
"And in Alabama's Morgan County, the Sheriff's Department said Elizabeth and Cummins may have stayed at a motel in Decatur, reported ABC affiliate WAAY on Thursday."
http://abc13.com/news/family-of-teen...found/1818992/


TC watched shows about living off the grid "Investigators also tell CBS News that Cummins appears to have been planning this for some time by watching survivalist shows."
http://www.ktvq.com/story/34952463/m...eacher-student

TC has no criminal record in the state of TN. "Cummins has no criminal record in the state of Tennessee."
http://www.wrcbtv.com/story/34935506...y-went-missing

I'll be editing this post with sources and such, but is there anything I missed?

Destany Parrish is a former student who TC may have groomed prior to ET, made alone time for the two of them and sang her a love song he'd written. He told us all one day that the office had gotten on to him and that we all had to go back to the lunch room because that's where we're supposed to be anyway," Parrish recalled. "Everybody left and I got my bag and got ready to leave, and he said the office hadn't said anything to him, he just didn't want that many kids in his room. It just ended up being he and I chilling in there. I would go there after school.”
Parrish said she would go to Cummins’ room after school and he would often take her to services at the Destiny Church in Columbia Parrish was 15 at the time, in 2011 she was his student.
http://www.wsmv.com/story/34977042/t...p-with-teacher

"One day, Parrish said Cummins arranged for them to be alone and he sang the lyrics he had written.
One of the lyrics read, "I could swim for a thousand miles in the oceans inside your eyes and never reach the side."
"It was just me and tad. We were in the music room. It was right next to his classroom, and I had learned a new song on the piano," said Parrish. "I was gonna go show him, but he sat down first and played that song, and I started recording a little bit in.
When asked if she felt the song was for her, Parrish said she didn't assume, but looking back, things seem different."
http://www.newschannel5.com/news/for...er-a-love-song

Interview with Thomas family attorneys by Nancy Grace: https://www.podcastchart.com/podcast...-at-school/pop

"Wayne County Now reported Cummins left a note for his wife, Jill, on the morning of his disappearance.
Complete details of the note have not been made public but District Attorney Brent Cooper said the note was a diversion to buy Cummins time and mislead the investigation. Cooper also said Cummins is on medication to control his blood pressure and should be in need of a refill"
http://wkrn.com/2017/04/12/cummins-l...of-medication/

Cummins has not accessed any bank accounts since his disappearance. (Per ET's Sister) Waiting on confirmation, so may not be right.

ET and TC were in Oklahoma City in Walmart on 3/15/2017.

 

[BIC]

No. He didn't touch checking or savings

Unlikely. Apparently, according to ET's sister, TC hasn't touched his bank accounts since he left.

She said he didn't touch checking or savings BEFORE he left.

I'm thinking it is possible he stayed close to home to try and withdraw his paycheck before moving on as to not be farther on his course which would lead LE to which way he was headed. IMO

 

[Blythe]

Are they enjoying this? Are they a happy couple?

Can she get away? Will she?

Just asking the wind.....

I can't imagine that this is any fun for her.

Liked the ChicK-Fil-A suggestion about posting her missing poster in all locations. Walmart posts missing photos in my neighborhood. Do all Walmarts? Good place to have their photos, also. IMO

 

[Mom24]

She said he didn't touch checking or savings BEFORE he left.

I'm thinking it is possible he stayed close to home to try and withdraw his paycheck before moving on as to not be farther on his course which would lead LE to which way he was headed. IMO

I'm confused. At the time we were wondering if TC tried to access his accounts in OK to get his paycheck (they get paid on the 15th) and that was what alerted LE to see if TC had been in the area and ET's sister posted that TC hadn't touched his accounts. But maybe you're right. Kat, did you mean he hasn't touched his accounts before he left or after?

 

[Mom2catieandtwins]

Hold up. Did someone say he has daughters? Does he not have sons? We have just spoken of his "children", not specifically said if he had daughters or sons or both. This will change the whole dynamic, which will make him much more evil.

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He has two daughters.

 

[JerseyGirl]

Pharmacies asked to be on the look out .. http://wfla.com/2017/04/12/amber-al...k-out-for-missing-teen-and-accused-kidnapper/

 

[BIC]

I'm confused. At the time we were wondering if TC tried to access his accounts in OK to get his paycheck (they get paid on the 15th) and that was what alerted LE to see if TC had been in the area and ET's sister posted that TC hadn't touched his accounts. But maybe you're right. Kat, did you mean he hasn't touched his accounts before he left or after?

I haven't been on here very long so I may have missed something from the beginning. What I quoted was from last night when the question arose that maybe he took money from accounts on top of the title loan before he left.